Tractor frame suspension



Jam. 16, l923.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 gli,

Patented Jan. 15,

Parent @aero-a;

ELMER n. WrcKnRsHAM, or s'rocn'ron', cnrrroama, assl'enon 'ro 'rnn nerr ranma'- FACTURING coMrnNY, .or srocx'ron, romain.

camronma, n conrona'rrolt ,or cam` TRGTOR FRAlIE SUSPENSION Application led September 29, 1919. Serial No. .327,267`

To all. whom it may cof/wem.

Be it knowfn that I, ELMER E. WIOKER- SHAM', a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing atStockton', ,in the county of San Joaquin and State of California, have invented new and vuseful Improvements in Tractor Frame Suspensions, of which the following is a specification., 4

This invention relates to tractors of the chain track type, and more particularlyto suspension means for the main frame. In a companion application tiled of even ,date herewith and entitled Tractor frame suspension Serial N o. 327 ,286 I show a Suspension means,y for the main frame having a -single' point` of connection with the truck mechanlsms, each truck, -mechanism being made up of hinged sections. The presentr application relates to the same general system ofsuspending they main frame at one point on an articulated truck mechanism, the difference from the above-mentioned case being that the leaf spring on which the weight of the main frame is carriedis con'- nected to the truck mechanism by means of a 4rearwardly extending arm on the hinged bearing of the front truck section -and the front truck section is held against tilting up.

, wardly by a'pressure spring interposed between theftwo truck sections. The weight of theload is thus evenly distributed on both truck sections.

Referring to 4the accompanying drawings: F ig. 1 shows a plan view\of a tractor embodylng my invention. Q

Fig, 2 shows a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 shows a sectional view taken on the lin'e 3-3of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows a detail 'View in plan of the hinge connection between' the truck sections. Fig. 45 shows a detail sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a'- cross section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

10 indicates the main frame of the tractor,

- ateach side of which is an endless self-laying track truck mechanism comprising front and rear roller frame sections 11 and 12 on which are journaled one or more supporting rollers 13. The front frame section carries the idler wheelv 14 and the rear section carries 'the driving sprocket wheel 15. The .drive shaft `16 for the sprocket wheel is also and thereby journaled on the main frame,

forms a pivot about which the ,truck mechanlsm as a whole may rock.`

For supporting the main frame upon the truck mechanisms Iprovide a transversely extending laminated leaf spring 17 having a central rocking connection 18 with the main frame, and resting at each end upon an arm 19, which arm is formed by the hinge bearing of the forward truck section. A compression spring 20 is interposed between the front and rear truck sections so that the tendency of the front'section to tilt upwardly, due to the weight of the main frame actingon the arm 19, will be restrained and the load will be transmitted to the rear truck section., Obviously, the main frame while it is supported at but one pointu on each truck Vmechanism will be stabilized on account `of the connection formed between the rear truck section and the main frame by the `presence of the drive shaft 16. This, however, is not a load-supporting` connection in any sense inasmuch as the preponderance of weight'upon the main frame is disposed forwardly of the and the tendency therefore is to lift the rear truck section. This lifting tendency is restrained by the spring 20 interposed between the front and rear truck sections. It will lleaf spring 17 also be noted that the connection 18 between the leaf spring and main frame is such as to permit the main frame to maintain a level position when one truck mechanism is raised hi her than the other. t

aving thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vehicle, a main frame,.a truck mechanism at each side comprising hinged truck sections, an idler wheel on the front section and a driving sprocket wheel 4on the rear section,I the latter having its axle jour naled on the main frame, an equalizerl bar pivotally connected tothe main frame and having a single .point of connection with hinged sections tending to keep them horizontal alignment.

2. In a vehicle, a main frame, a truck mechanism at each side comprising hinged A truck sections, an idler wheel on the( front section and a driving sprocket wheel on the sa f rearsection, the latter having its drive shaft journaled on the main frame, an equalizer bar pivotally connected to the main frame, a rearwardly extending arm on the hinge bearing of the front truck section supporting said equalizer' bar at its end and spring 'means between the two sections of each truck mechanism for maintaining said sections in a straight line.

3. In avehicle. a main framet a truck mechanism ateach side pivotally connected to the main frame for rocking movement in a vertical plane, each of said truck mechanisms comprising front and rear sections, a. hinged connection between said sections, a loadbearing-connecton for the main frame resting on said hinged joint and spring means interposed between the truck sections tendingto maintain them in horizontal alignment.

4. In a vehicle7 a main frame, a truck mechanism at each side comprising front and rear hinged truck sections, a sprocket wheel on the rear section having its axle journaledon the main frame, a sprocket wheel'on the front section disconnected from the main frame, a transversely extending load-carrying member for the main frame bearing at each end upon the hinge between said truck sections, and spring means between the truck sections exerting a downward thrust on the front section.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELMER E. WICKERSHAM.

Witnesses GLADYs SCHERMERHORN, IRENE BUGBEE. 

